The concept of the Rapture, though not a term favored in the church of God due to its evangelical associations, is rooted in biblical teachings. The primary scripture cited for this event is I Thessalonians 4:16-17, which describes believers being caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The timing of this event is crucial; it occurs at the coming of the Lord, as stated in I Thessalonians 4:15-16, when Christ descends from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God. This last trumpet, also referenced in I Corinthians 15:50-52, sounds at Christ's return, simultaneously announcing the establishment of God's Kingdom, the judgment of the nations, and the rewarding of the saints. Additional scriptures like Matthew 24:29-31 confirm that this gathering of the elect happens immediately after the tribulation, as the trumpet sounds to send angels to collect them from across the earth to meet Him. Regarding the destination of those who rise to meet Christ, the church teaches that it is not to heaven but back to earth. While some assume that since Christ lives in heaven, the saints will too, based on I Thessalonians 4:17, this is not supported by other scriptures. Zechariah 14:3-5, 9 clearly shows that the saints return with our King to rule over the earth. The reward of the saved is eternal life as kings and priests ruling and teaching here on earth, as affirmed in Revelation 5:10. Thus, those who endure to the end and remain faithful will be among those caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, returning with Him to establish His Kingdom on earth.

The concept of the Rapture, as understood by many evangelical Protestants, emerged as a significant phenomenon over 25 years ago, notably through the "Left Behind" series by Tim LeHaye and Jerry Jenkins, published starting in 1995. This series, concluding in 2007 with 16 books, portrays a world post-Rapture, where believers are suddenly taken to heaven before the Tribulation, a period of great suffering on earth. This belief, rooted in a specific interpretation of I Thessalonians 4:15-18, suggests that the Rapture occurs before the Great Tribulation, marking its beginning, and could be as much as seven years prior to the second coming of Christ. Advocates of this view, often called pre-tribulationists, assert that Christ will return in a near miss, not setting foot on earth but snatching away the saints to heaven for a period of feasting while chaos ensues below during the Tribulation and Day of the Lord. This interpretation posits that God must rapture believers to heaven to spare them from wrath, based on I Thessalonians 5:9, which states that true believers are not appointed to wrath. Consequently, they believe Christ returns twice—first to take the saints away secretly before the Tribulation, and later to return with them to earth, setting foot on the Mount of Olives. During the initial event, they envision sudden disappearances causing mayhem on earth, with unsaved relatives searching frantically for loved ones and media speculating wildly about the mysterious vanishings, setting the stage for the rise of the antiChrist and the horrors of the Tribulation. However, this view of a pre-tribulation Rapture contrasts with a perspective that aligns the event with Christ's singular return, not before but at the end of the Tribulation. This post-tribulation understanding holds that believers are caught up to meet the Lord in the air as He descends, accompanying Him back to earth to establish God's Kingdom, rather than being whisked away to heaven for years. The term "Rapture" itself derives from the Latin "rapere," meaning to be caught up or snatched, as translated from the Greek "harpagesomethe" in I Thessalonians 4:17, though it carries connotations that may confuse the event's true nature. To avoid such confusion, terms like Christ's second coming or glorious appearing are preferred, focusing on His return rather than an escape from wrath. The timing of this event, as understood differently, is critical. Rapture advocates believe in a secret return and trumpet sound before the Tribulation, whereas a contrasting view sees the trumpet of God, paralleled with the last trumpet in I Corinthians 15, announcing Christ's triumphant return and the resurrection of the elect at the same moment, not years apart. This singular event, marked by loud noises, shouts, and trumpet blasts as depicted in various scriptures, signifies the descent of God to earth, aligning with the Feast of Trumpets' themes of shouting and alarm, commemorating His powerful arrival to set up His Kingdom.

Christ describes the Great Tribulation and the end-time events leading up to His return, likening this period to the days of Noah when disaster struck suddenly while people were engaged in their daily lives. Just as in those days, people will be working in the fields or grinding at the mill when end-time events fall upon them unexpectedly. At His return, a separation will occur between those who attain to the first resurrection and those who do not.

The rapture is a biblical teaching found in I Thessalonians 4 verses 16 and 17. It is called the first resurrection. The phrase shall be caught up in verse 17 comes from the Greek word harpaggisomitha which the Latin translates as rapio meaning to be caught up. It means to be caught up literally to meet Christ in the air. The churches of God avoid the term rapture because of its Protestant connotations and refer instead to the first resurrection or the change at Christ's second coming. On the day that Christ returns to earth to fight His enemies and establish His throne on the earth the dead in Christ will rise first. Those who are alive and converted will be caught up to meet Him in the air. The trumpets will sound. Christ will return. The dead rise first. The converted people whom God allows to be there in the first resurrection will be caught up and changed without having to go through the physical death process. They will suddenly be spirit and caught up together with Him. Theologians have made strange assumptions about the timing of this event and hold three views. Pre-tribulationists put the rapture at the beginning of a seven-year period when the beast signs a treaty with Israel. This view splits Christ's return into two parts so that He comes back at the beginning of the seven years and takes believers back to heaven then returns seven years later. It is invalid because it requires two returns and leaves no saints for satan to persecute during the Tribulation. Mid-tribulationists place the rapture at the midpoint of the seven-year period when the beast proclaims himself to be God. This view has the same problems of requiring two returns and leaving no Christians to persecute. The churches of God hold the post-tribulational view that the church will remain on the earth during the entire Tribulation. Some will be protected in a place of safety. Others will go through the Tribulation and possibly suffer martyrdom. Christ will return once gathering His elect and fighting the beast all in one event. I Corinthians 15 shows the same sequence. At the last trumpet the dead will be raised incorruptible and changed. The last trumpet is the seventh of the last-trumpet plagues in Revelation 11 verse 15 when Christ returns to set up His Kingdom. Revelation 11 verses 11 through 13 also describe the first resurrection when the saints meet Him in the air. Matthew 24 shows the sequence of the sign of Christ coming the trumpet sounding the angels being sent out and the elect being gathered. Joel 2 verses 1 through 11 describes the trumpet sounding an earthquake and heavenly signs followed by the Lord's army. Isaiah 27 verse 13 shows the trumpet sounding and the captives from Israel and the worshippers of God being gathered. At the last trump Christ returns the dead in Christ are raised and the converted people on earth are caught up together with Him in the air.